M&P SHIELD 0.40 CALIBER MAGAZINE DROP PROBLEM POLL
- Thread starter CJWig
- Start date
- Status
I wish I would have seen this post before. I just picked up a Shield 40 this past weekend. Tested it out when I got home, ran both full mags through it once, shot great. Shot better groups than my XD40 sub compact right from the start. Loaded up the 7rd ext. mag a second time, the mag released 4 times in 7rds. I though maybe I was hitting the release with my finger, but I was being extra careful the last couple times it dropped. I'm going to shoot it tomorrow just to make sure it's not me.
2/3 Likely Not Accurate
You can't accurately say 2/3 of the general public are having the issue based on this forum (I know you stated "in this forum"). Statistics show that people that are having a problem with a product are more likely to "review" or "rate" it... or in this case, come on a forum and complain. If you are not experiencing a problem, you are a less likey to come on here and post that everything is fine.
I am sure of lot of people having the issue come on these forums for the first time in search of a solution.
That being sad, there is clearly a problem, and it is not uncommon. S&W has really dropped the ball on this and needs to put forth a full on effort to resolve the issue as soon as possible. There are a lot of unhappy customers out there because of this...
The best way to get a more accurate count would be to poll Shield owners at the LSR.
You can't accurately say 2/3 of the general public are having the issue based on this forum (I know you stated "in this forum"). Statistics show that people that are having a problem with a product are more likely to "review" or "rate" it... or in this case, come on a forum and complain. If you are not experiencing a problem, you are a less likey to come on here and post that everything is fine.
I am sure of lot of people having the issue come on these forums for the first time in search of a solution.
That being sad, there is clearly a problem, and it is not uncommon. S&W has really dropped the ball on this and needs to put forth a full on effort to resolve the issue as soon as possible. There are a lot of unhappy customers out there because of this...
The best way to get a more accurate count would be to poll Shield owners at the LSR.
Last edited:
Yes, I have a magazine drop problem. Thought it was my thumb hitting the release under recoil. Asked the range officer to look while I fired, then he fired it. Same thing. The gunsmith had the same problem and looked into it a bit. He thinks the magazine follower is coming in contact with the mag release as it moves up during shooting. Smith wants me to send the firearm back to them for inspection.
My Mag Problem Experience
I got my 40 shield 2 weeks ago and the first day out I had the problem with the extended mag dropping. The gun ran perfectly with the shorter mag.
I then used the blade of a screw driver to bend the upper lip (where the mag release plunges
into the mag) outward. I believe this gave it a little more surface area to catch onto and it has been perfect ever since. I have fired Federal, Ultramax, Remington JHP's and Remington Golden Sabers and have not been able to get it to drop a mag again through 200 rounds.
The mag still does drop cleanly and freely when you press the release.
I am not saying this is the final solution or even the right one but just wanted to share my experience. I went from a new gun that dropped a mag on every shot to one that fires everything smoothly and accurately.
I really, really like this pistol.
I got my 40 shield 2 weeks ago and the first day out I had the problem with the extended mag dropping. The gun ran perfectly with the shorter mag.
I then used the blade of a screw driver to bend the upper lip (where the mag release plunges
into the mag) outward. I believe this gave it a little more surface area to catch onto and it has been perfect ever since. I have fired Federal, Ultramax, Remington JHP's and Remington Golden Sabers and have not been able to get it to drop a mag again through 200 rounds.
The mag still does drop cleanly and freely when you press the release.
I am not saying this is the final solution or even the right one but just wanted to share my experience. I went from a new gun that dropped a mag on every shot to one that fires everything smoothly and accurately.
I really, really like this pistol.
Last edited:
I know this thread is about the 40 shield, but I owned a bodytguard 380 for one day before I traded for a 442 because of a poorly designed mag catch. The slightest touch would eject the magazine. I do own the 9mm shield and I'm very happy with it.. I feel your pain. S&W should take a look at glocks magazine setup, they got it right.
My .40 Shield drops both mags. Sent it back for repairs. Waiting for it to be returned.
I'm a huge S&W fan (own 4 M&P pistols and an AR). The Shield .40 has a design problem that they need to fix or they will lose me and many others as a customer.
I'm a huge S&W fan (own 4 M&P pistols and an AR). The Shield .40 has a design problem that they need to fix or they will lose me and many others as a customer.
I'm looking at the Shield 40, but don't have it yet. For anyone with one magazine that does not drop and one that does, can you measure and compare the magazines (front to back and side to side) with a caliper? With any luck it will be the magazine(s) and not the mag well. If that's the case maybe S&W can replace magazine faster than they can repair the guns.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
I have been following this post for awhile and would like to add my observation off the problem. Im not a gun smith nor do I recommend altering your gun or parts in any way.
So I have attached two pictures. The first picture shows the magazine release, release catch and release tension bar. The second is a picture of the short mag with the magazine floor plate removed. As you can see it doesnt look like much of the magazine catch makes a lot of contact with the Mag. I have seen a few posts were the magazine is altered and you push out the top of the magazine tab that makes contact with the mag. I believe this would work. If you look at the magazines themselves they are actually tapered. If S&W were to remove that and make them more squared that would be one solution. Another would to replace the Magazine release making the catch a little longer. I was also wondering if the tension bar was a little flimsy. I dont know how it could be done but I wonder if there was a way to record the amount of pressure it took to depress the release if the DXX and DXV's took less force then the other DXT's SN M&P 40 Shields.
I personally think its has to do with the tension bar and the size of the mag catch. I think that not enough of the mag stop protrudes into the mag and during recoil the mag catch moves enough to allow the magazine to drop.
Right now I do not have an issue with my DXV numbered M&P40 Shield but I have gone and altered both my mags after reading this thread. I hope S&W does the right thing and issues a recall rather then just fixing the guns that have the problem. I know right now I dont have the problem but when my life depends on it I dont want the mag dropping after the first shot.
So I have attached two pictures. The first picture shows the magazine release, release catch and release tension bar. The second is a picture of the short mag with the magazine floor plate removed. As you can see it doesnt look like much of the magazine catch makes a lot of contact with the Mag. I have seen a few posts were the magazine is altered and you push out the top of the magazine tab that makes contact with the mag. I believe this would work. If you look at the magazines themselves they are actually tapered. If S&W were to remove that and make them more squared that would be one solution. Another would to replace the Magazine release making the catch a little longer. I was also wondering if the tension bar was a little flimsy. I dont know how it could be done but I wonder if there was a way to record the amount of pressure it took to depress the release if the DXX and DXV's took less force then the other DXT's SN M&P 40 Shields.
I personally think its has to do with the tension bar and the size of the mag catch. I think that not enough of the mag stop protrudes into the mag and during recoil the mag catch moves enough to allow the magazine to drop.
Right now I do not have an issue with my DXV numbered M&P40 Shield but I have gone and altered both my mags after reading this thread. I hope S&W does the right thing and issues a recall rather then just fixing the guns that have the problem. I know right now I dont have the problem but when my life depends on it I dont want the mag dropping after the first shot.
cstaalin, I was wondering the same thing on my shield 9mm and definitely the bodygaurd 380 that I owned for one day. My full size M&P9 has a nice strong tension bar/spring for the magazine release. I called S&W to see if they offered a stiffer tension bar/spring for my bodygaurd 380 before I traded it. Obviously the answer was no.
FLSTFI
Member
Got chance to go out in backyard and fire 50 rounds through my 7 round mag with +1 in the chamber. Zero drops!
Shield 40 on Range
Video of Shield 40 on range today... flush mag did not drop- extended was not used.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 40 at Range - YouTube
One handed, messing around...
Video of Shield 40 on range today... flush mag did not drop- extended was not used.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 40 at Range - YouTube
One handed, messing around...
Another video of Shield 40 with flush mag at range today - no mag drop through 100+ rounds. Have not used extended mag..
M&P Shield 40 at Range - Mag Drop Test - YouTube
One handed, messing around...
M&P Shield 40 at Range - Mag Drop Test - YouTube
One handed, messing around...
I had been thinking I might have a problem with the extended mag dropping. I did two things that convinced me that it isn't a gun problem, but a me problem. One I had a friend shoot it and he put several 7 round mags through without any problem. Then I really watched my grip and put a couple through. I am a lefty, and what I thought was happening, and think I confirmed is that if I let my right index finger get a little high it presses against the soft part on my left middle finger and under recoil I end up pushing that against the release. If I make sure my index finger goes more against the back of my middle finger instead I have no issues. Hopefully this makes sense. I have no doubt there are people where it is the gun not them, but maybe this will help some of you....or at least some of the lefties.
cstaalin, you gave me an idea...
In your images it appears the mag catch is actually plastic. Is it? I wanted to compare to my full size MP40 just for curiosity. The mag catch is clearly metal embedded in plastic. I know this because of the rust I saw when I zoomed in on the image
(will be fixing that soon!). I took pics from top and bottom. Can you tell if the Shield's mag catch is plastic? If it is, perhaps that is a contributing factor. I'm not an armorer by any means, but I am wondering about it.
In your images it appears the mag catch is actually plastic. Is it? I wanted to compare to my full size MP40 just for curiosity. The mag catch is clearly metal embedded in plastic. I know this because of the rust I saw when I zoomed in on the image
(will be fixing that soon!). I took pics from top and bottom. Can you tell if the Shield's mag catch is plastic? If it is, perhaps that is a contributing factor. I'm not an armorer by any means, but I am wondering about it.
follow up, after several communications with S&W, I was told that they are fully aware of the condition, and that engineering has a solution for the problem. They did not specify what it was, but advised me to send my Shield in for "retro-fit". They sent me a shipping tag and I sent it back yesterday. I was also told due to their annual maintenance shut down, they are behind schedule and it could be 4-6 weeks. I will post further as I hear or when I get it back.
cstaalin, you gave me an idea...
In your images it appears the mag catch is actually plastic. Is it? I wanted to compare to my full size MP40 just for curiosity. The mag catch is clearly metal embedded in plastic. I know this because of the rust I saw when I zoomed in on the image
As far as I can tell the mag catch is 100% plastic
My Shield 40 has the steel insert in the mag catch.
- Status
Similar threads
